Managing fuel oil mixture in engines

ABSTRACT

A fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture is managed to determine if the fuel and oil mixture contains the correct ratio for a motor. The fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture is monitored. A fuel to oil ratio is selected for the motor. A combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is calculated with respect to the fuel to oil ratio, and the temperature of the fuel and oil mixture. The combined viscosity is used to determine a predetermined range of the combined viscosity. The viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture within the fuel tank is measured as a measured viscosity. If the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range, then a user may be alerted that the measured viscosity does not correspond with the predetermined range.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to fluid handling, and more particularaspects relate to monitoring the mixture of a fluid using viscosity.

Internal combustion engines turn a combustion of fuel into electricaland mechanical energy. Certain internal combustion engines havedifferent power cycles (e.g., four stroke and two stroke). Internalcombustion engines require lubrication while operating to prevent wearduring operation. The fuel is compressed by a cylinder, ignited by aspark plug, and exhausted. Igniting the fuel and oil (fuel:oil, fuel tooil) mixture drives the cylinder downward, which turns a crankshaft. Thecrankshaft transfers the energy created by the ignition of the fuel topropel a machine housing the internal combustion engine.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method, a system,and a computer program product is proposed to monitor a viscosity of afuel and oil mixture within a fuel tank. The fuel and oil mixture maycontain a fuel, and an oil mixed in a fuel to oil ratio that correspondsto a fuel to oil ratio of an internal combustion engine. The temperatureand a viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture may be measured to determineif the fuel and oil mixture corresponds with the fuel to oil ratio ofthe internal combustion engine.

One embodiment provides a method for managing a fuel tank containing afuel and oil mixture to determine if the fuel and oil mixture containsthe correct ratio for a motor. The fuel tank containing a fuel and oilmixture is monitored. A fuel to oil ratio is selected for the motor. Acombined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is calculated withrespect to the fuel to oil ratio, and the temperature of the fuel andoil mixture. The combined viscosity is used to determine a predeterminedrange of the combined viscosity. The viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture within the fuel tank is measured as a measured viscosity. If themeasured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond withthe predetermined range, then a user may be alerted that the measuredviscosity does not correspond with the predetermined range.

Another embodiment is directed toward a system for managing a fuel tankcontaining a fuel and oil mixture to determine if the fuel and oilmixture contains the correct ratio for a motor. The system includes amemory, a processor device communicatively coupled to the memory, and asensor module communicatively coupled to the processor device. Thesensor module contains a measurement tool, a computing tool, and analert tool. The measurement tool of the sensor module are configured tomonitor the fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture. The computingtool of the sensor module are configured to select a fuel to oil ratiofor the motor. The computing tool of the sensor module are configured tocalculate a combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture with respectto the fuel to oil ratio, and the temperature of the fuel and oilmixture. The computing tool of the sensor module are configured todetermine a predetermined range of the combined viscosity. The measuringtool of the sensor module are configured to measure the viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture within the fuel tank as a measured viscosity. Thealert tool of the sensor module are configured to alert a user if themeasured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond withthe predetermined range.

Yet another embodiment is directed toward a computer program product formanaging a fuel tank containing a fuel and oil mixture to determine ifthe fuel and oil mixture contains the correct ratio for a motor. Thecomputer program product is configured to monitor the fuel tankcontaining a fuel and oil mixture. The computer program product isconfigured to select a fuel to oil ratio for the motor. The computerprogram product is configured to calculate a combined viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture with respect to the fuel to oil ratio, and thetemperature of the fuel and oil mixture. The computer program product isconfigured to determine a predetermined range of the combined viscosity.The computer program product measures the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture within the fuel tank as a measured viscosity. The computerprogram product is configured to alert a user if the measured viscosityof the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with the predeterminedrange.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustratedembodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into,and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of thepresent disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative ofcertain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.

FIG. 1A depicts an illustration of a fuel tank with a sensor modulemonitoring the fuel to oil ratio, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1B depicts an illustration of a fuel tank with a sensor modulemonitoring the fuel to oil ratio with a fuel reservoir and an oilreservoir, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of components of a sensor module,according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts tables of the combined viscosity of a fuel:oil ratio withrespect to temperature, according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of monitoring a fuel to oil ratio within afuel tank, according to various embodiments.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to monitoring a fuel to oilratio, more particular aspects relate to monitoring a viscosity of thefuel to oil ratio of a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The fuelto oil ratio is monitored to determine a proper fuel and oil mixturewithin the fuel tank of the two-stroke engine. The fuel to oil ratio maybe monitored using a viscometer measuring the viscosity of a fuel to oilmixture. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to suchapplications, various aspects of the disclosure may be appreciatedthrough a discussion of various examples using this context.

A two-stroke engine (two-cycle engine, 2-stroke engine) requires amixture of a fuel and an oil to lubricate the crankshaft duringoperation. The fuel and oil mixture is used to lubricate the crankshaftbecause two-stroke engines do not have oil reservoirs to lubricate thecrankshaft. A fuel and oil mixture may be a mixture of a first fuel anda first oil combined at a predetermined value for the two-stroke engine.For example, a fuel and oil mixture may be 1 fluid ounce (fl. oz.) oilto 100 fl. oz. fuel. Different two-stroke engines require certainmixtures of fuel and oil for operation. The type or style of thetwo-stroke engine may require a user to select the fuel:oil ratio forthe machine based on the manufacturer's specifications. The fuel and oilmixture can be given the form of a fuel to oil ratio (fuel:oil ratio),which may be achieved by mixing an amount of fuel with an amount of oil.The fuel:oil ratio may be a predetermined value of the amount of fueland oil that may be mixed together. For example, a fuel oil ratio mayinclude a 1 part oil in 100 part fuel ratio (100:1, 1% oil). To preventthe two-stroke engine from being damaged during operation, oil may needto be added to the fuel. To be able to monitor if the oil has been addedto the fuel, a viscometer may be used. The viscometer may measure thecontents of a fuel tank to determine the fuel:oil ratio. The fuel tankmay be a reservoir that stores the fuel to oil mixture before entering afuel line to be injected into the engine. For example, the fuel tank maybe a two-liter liquid reservoir for storing the fuel and oil mixture.The viscometer may send the determination to a computer with an alertsystem, and the alert system may alert a user if the fuel:oil ratio ofthe contents in the fuel tank does not correspond with a predeterminedrange for the engine. For example, if the oil is not mixed with the fuelor the mixture of fuel to oil is too low, then engine damage may occurdue to piston seizures. In another example, if the oil is added inexcess, then the spark plug which ignites the fuel and oil mixture maybecome fouled (e.g., fail due to a buildup of oil on the plug). Theexhaust of the fuel to oil mixture may also increase in hydrocarbonemissions if the oil is added in excess.

Two-stroke internal combustion engines (two-stroke engines) may beutilized to take advantage of the power-to-weight ratio. Typicallytwo-stroke engines, when compared to four-stroke engines, have anincreased power-to-weight ratio. For example, where a two-stroke engineand a four-stroke engine both have the same power output, the weight ofthe two-stroke engine typically is less than the four-stroke engine.

Fuel may be a material that stores potential energy that may be releasedto produce work or heat energy. The fuel may be burned or ignited thoughcombustion to produce energy in the form of work. Work may includeproducing mechanical energy to perform a function. Fuel may includesolid fuels, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels, biofuels, and fossil fuels.Fossil fuels may be refined into solid fuel, liquid fuel, or gaseousfuels. Liquid fuels may include gasoline (petrol) derived frompetroleum, which is itself refined from crude oil (fossil fuels).Gasoline may be burned in an internal combustion engine as the fuel. Theburning of gasoline within an internal combustion engine produces energyin the form or work, which may be transformed into mechanical energy toperform a function. The function may be determined by the machine thatcontains the internal combustion engine burning the fuel. Machines willbe described further herein.

Oil (engine oil, motor oil) may be a neutral nonpolar chemical substancethat may be used for lubrication in internal combustion engines. Motoroils may be derived from petroleum-based compounds ornon-petroleum-synthesized chemical compounds (e.g., synthetic motoroil). Motor oils lubricate the internal combustion engine to reduce wearon moving parts.

The fuel:oil ratio may include mixing a volume of fuel with a volume ofoil. An example of a fuel:oil ratio may include a 50:1 fuel:oil ratio,where 50 parts of fuel are mixed with 1 part of oil. The 50:1 fuel:oilratio may include a liquid mixture of 1 gallon (gal) of fuel to 2.5fluid ounces (fl. oz.) of oil (i.e. 128:2.5 fl. oz.). The fuel:oil ratiomay also be shown as a percentage. For example, a 50:1 fuel:oil ratiowould be 2% oil mixed with 98% fuel.

The fuel:oil ratio may be measured within the fuel tank with aviscometer to determine if the fuel:oil ratio corresponds with apredetermined range. The viscosity measures the resistance of a liquidto shear or tensile stress. Kinematic viscosity may be used to measurethe dynamic viscosity of the fluid with respect to the density.Kinematic viscosity and viscosity will be used interchangeably herein.The measurement of viscosity may be recorded in centistokes (cSt) ormillimeter squared per second (mm²/s) (i.e. m²/s×10⁻⁶). For example, theviscosity of water at 20° C. is approximately 1.004 cSt. Depending onthe fuel and the oil, the viscosity may differ. For example, AMSOILSABER® synthetic 2-stroke oil (property of AMSOIL Incorporated) has aviscosity of 71 cSt at 40° C., whereas Sinclair Artic Fire® 2-cycleengine oil (property of Sinclair Oil Corporation) has a viscosity of30.56 cSt at 40° C.

The viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture may be measured to determineif the fuel:oil ratio is corresponds with a predetermined range. Theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture may be measured with a viscometer.This viscometer may communicate with a computer that may display theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. The computer may also display afuel:oil ratio of the fuel oil mixture. The computer may alert the userthat the fuel:oil ratio of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspondwith the predetermined range of a calculated fuel:oil ratio. Forexample, the calculated viscosity is 1.0 cSt with a predetermined rangeof ±0.1 cSt. If the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is1.05 cSt, then the measured fuel and oil mixture corresponds with thepredetermined range. In an additional example, the calculated viscosityis 1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.1 cSt. If the measuredviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 1.15 cSt, then the measuredfuel and oil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined rangeand an alert may be generated.

The viscometer may operate in conjunction with a temperature sensormodule due to a relationship between viscosity and temperature.Depending on the fluid, changes in temperature affect the viscosity ofthe fluid. For example, the viscosity of water at 10° C. isapproximately 1.307 cSt which is higher than the viscosity of water at20° C. (approximately 1.004 cSt). In another example, AMSOIL SABER®synthetic 2-stroke oil has a viscosity of 71 cSt at 40° C., but aviscosity of 11.1 cSt at 100° C. In another example, Sinclair ArticFire® two-stroke oil has a viscosity of 30.56 cSt at 40° C., but aviscosity of 6.17 cSt at 100° C.

The viscosity of unleaded gasoline may typically range between 0.5 and0.75 cSt at 40° C. depending on the manufacturer of the fuel. Typically,when an oil is more viscous, the recommended fuel and oil mixture ratioincreases. For example, the recommended mixture of fuel:oil ratio forSABER®, a higher viscosity oil compared to Artic Fire®, is 80:1 or 100:1whereas the recommended mixture fuel:oil ratio for Arctic Fire® is 50:1and below.

The predetermined range may include an area of variation between anupper threshold and a lower threshold of the fuel:oil ratio. Thepredetermined range may be determined by calculating a viscosity basedon the oil and the fuel to be mixed. The calculated viscosity may thenbe given an upper threshold and a lower threshold as a predeterminedrange that the fuel:oil ratio may be within without generating an alert.The predetermined range may also be a first threshold which, whenreached, generates an alert. The first threshold may be determined bythe viscosity of the fuel, the viscosity of the oil, and the recommendedfuel:oil ratio of the machine. For example, a fuel:oil ratio with aviscosity of 1.1 cSt may be initialized with a predetermined range of±0.2 cSt. An alert of the upper threshold being reached may be generatedif the viscosity of the fuel:oil ratio is 1.3 cSt or above. An alert ofthe lower threshold being reached may be generated if the viscosity ofthe fuel:oil ratio is 0.9 cSt or below.

In various embodiments, the predetermined range may be dynamicallycalculated. The dynamically calculated range may include a percentagethat is used to calculate a dynamic range. The calculated dynamic rangemay be a large range when the calculated viscosity is high, and thedynamic range may be small if the viscosity is low. The dynamicviscosity may include a set percentage that causes the dynamic range tochange. The dynamic viscosity may be calculated from a percentagedeviation from the calculated viscosity. For example, for a highviscosity fuel and oil mixture the dynamic range may be calculated froma 10% deviation, and if the calculated viscosity is 1.0 cSt, then thedynamic range may be ±0.1 cSt. The upper threshold may then be 1.1 cStand the lower threshold may then be 0.9 cSt. In another example, for alow viscosity fuel and oil mixture the dynamic range may be calculatedfrom a 10% deviation, and if the calculated viscosity is 0.7 cSt, thenthe dynamic range may be ±0.07 cSt. The upper threshold may then be 0.77cSt and the lower threshold may then be 0.73 cSt.

The alert may include a visual or audible system that informs a userupon the determination that the fuel:oil ratio does not correspond withthe predetermined range. Examples of alerts may include but are notlimited to a light emitting indicator and/or a sound emitting indicator.A light emitting indicator could include a warning light or a display. Asound emitting indicator could include a buzzer or alarm. If theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with thepredetermined range, then an alert may be generated. For example, thealert may include an audible alert that makes a sound or tone if theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with thepredetermined range. In an additional example, the alert may include awarning light, which is illuminated when the viscosity of the fuel andoil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range.

The user may be informed about the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixturenot corresponding with the predetermined range. Informing the user mayinclude informing the user to add more oil to the fuel and oil mixture.Informing the user may include informing the user to add more fuel tothe fuel and oil mixture. For example, the calculated fuel:oil ratio is1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.1 cSt. If the measuredviscosity is 1.15 cSt, then the user may be informed to add additionalfuel to the fuel and oil mixture. In an additional example, thecalculated fuel:oil ratio is 1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.1cSt. If the measured viscosity is 0.85 cSt, then the user may beinformed to add additional oil to the fuel and oil mixture.

To determine a calculated viscosity for the fuel:oil range the GambillMethod may be used. The Gambill Method:

V _(c) ^(1/3) =X _(f) V _(f) ^(1/3) +X _(o) V _(o) ^(1/3)

The Gambill Method can be used to calculate the measurement of thecombined viscosity (V_(c)). The combined viscosity may be calculatedusing the mass fraction of the fuel (X_(f)), the mass fraction of theoil (X_(o)), the viscosity of the fuel (V_(f)), and the viscosity of theoil (V_(o)). For the Gambill Method to be calculated, the viscosity atthe temperature needs to be known. To gather the viscosity at atemperature a lookup table may be used. If the temperature of thefuel:oil ratio is 55° C. then the viscosities of the fuel and the oilmay be acquired from the lookup table at 55° C. If the viscosity for theoil at 55° C. is 45 cSt, then the V_(o) in the Gambill method may be 45cSt. If the viscosity for the fuel at 55° C. is 0.65 cSt, then the V_(f)in the Gambill method may be 0.65 cSt. Using the Gambill method of thefuel and oil at 55° C., the V_(c) at a 40:1 fuel:oil ratio may be 0.844cSt.

The lookup table may also include a repository of the combinedviscosities for the fuel and oil mixture for various temperatures. Thelookup table may be a stored repository within a computer that can beused to determine if the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixturecorresponds with the predetermined range of the combined viscosity. Forexample, a fuel and oil mixture may have a lookup table including arange from −20° C. to 100° C. The lookup table may include a combinedviscosity measurement for the fuel and oil mixture for every 1° C.change within the range of −20° C. to 100° C. In an additional example,the fuel oil mixture may have a combined viscosity measurement for every0.1° C. change within the range of −20° C. to 100° C. The lookup tablemay then be referenced to determine if the measured viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture corresponds with the predetermined range of thecombined viscosity stored on the look up table.

In various embodiments, the alert may be displayed on a device, whichmay be used by a user to determine the fuel:oil ratio. The device maydisplay the fuel:oil ratio within the fuel tank. For example, the devicemay be a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may display the currentfuel:oil ratio based on the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. Inanother example, the alert may communicate wirelessly with a device,where the device displays the alert to the user.

In various embodiments, the alert may inform the user to add either moreoil or fuel to the mixture depending on the fuel:oil ratio. If thefuel:oil ratio is determined to not correspond with the predeterminedrange, the alert may inform the user to add more fuel or oil to themixture. For example, if the lower threshold is reached, indicating thatnot enough oil is within the fuel:oil ratio, the alert may inform theuser to add more oil.

In various embodiments, a second lower threshold may be included withthe alert or may generate a second alert. The second threshold maydetermine if oil was not mixed with the fuel before being added to thefuel tank. The second threshold may be determined by the viscosity ofthe fuel, the viscosity of the oil, and the recommended fuel:oil ratioof the machine. For example, if the viscosity of the fuel is 0.6 cSt,then a second lower threshold may be placed on the fuel:oil ratio at0.65 cSt. If the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.64 cSt, thenthe alert may be generated informing the user that oil has not beenadded to the fuel and oil mixture.

FIG. 1A depicts an illustration of a fuel tank with a sensor modulemonitoring the fuel:oil ratio, according to embodiments. The sensormodule 110 may monitor the viscosity and the temperature of the fuel andoil mixture. The fuel tank 130 may include a sensor module 110communicatively coupled with a display 120. The sensor module 110 maydetermine the fuel:oil ratio of the contents (i.e. fuel and oil mixture)of the fuel tank 130. The fuel tank 130 may distribute the fuel and oilmixture from the tank to the engine 132 through the fuel line 134. Thesensor module 110 may include a viscometer. The viscometer of the sensormodule 110 may measure the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture withinthe fuel tank 130. The sensor module 110 may also include a temperaturesensor that measures the temperature of the fuel and oil mixture withinthe tank. For example, the sensor module 110 may measure a viscosity of1.1 cSt and the temperature of 45° C.

The sensor module 110 may include a computing system that may calculatea predetermined range of acceptable viscosities that the measuredviscosity may be within, without triggering an alert. The computingsystem may continuously calculate the predetermined range of acceptableviscosities based on the fuel:oil ratio, the temperature of the mixturewithin the fuel tank 130, the type of oil, and the type of fuel. Beforethe predetermined range of viscosities is calculated, the type of oiland the type of fuel may need to be inputted into the computer. Thecomputer may store the fuel:oil ratio for the engine and measure thetemperature. The predetermined range may be adjustable or dynamic basedon the engine 132. For example, if the temperature is 45° C. and thecomputing system calculates based on the fuel, the oil, and the fuel:oilratio that the viscosity should be 1.15 cSt, then a possiblepredetermined range may be ±0.1 cSt. If the predetermined range is ±0.1cSt at 45° C., then the measured viscosity can be between 1.05 cSt and1.25 cSt. If the measured viscosity is 1.1 cSt, then the measuredviscosity corresponds with the predetermined range.

The display 120 may communicatively couple with the sensor module 110and include an input system where the user may input the fuel:oil ratioof the engine, the type of fuel, and the type of oil. The fuel:oil ratiofor example may include a 20:1, a 40:1, a 50:1, an 80:1, or a 100:1ratio. The type of fuel may include various octane levels of gasoline.The type of oil may include the brand of the oil or the user may inputtwo oil viscosities of the oil at two temperatures. The computing systemof the sensor module may store information for each of the two cycleengine oils. For example, the user may input AMSOIL SABER® as the oil.The information stored on the computing system can then use theviscosities stored on a lookup table to determine if the fuel:oil ratiocorresponds with the predetermined range. The user may input twoviscosities of the oil at two respective temperatures. For example, theuser may input for AMSOIL SABER® a first viscosity of 71 cSt at 40° C.,and a second viscosity of 11.1 cSt at 100° C., after which the lookuptable may create a new entry for the calculated viscosity, and thepredetermined ranges.

In various embodiments, the sensor module 110 may be located within thefuel line 134 between the fuel tank 130 and the engine 132. The sensormodule 110 may be placed just before the fuel is turned into an air andgas mixture. The sensor module 110 within the fuel line may measure theviscosity, the temperature, and the pressure of the fuel and oil mixturewithin the fuel line. If the sensor module 110 is within the fuel line134, then the sensor module 110 may also include a pressure sensor. Thepressure sensor may be used to adjust the viscosity based on thepressure within the fuel line 134.

In various embodiments, the sensor module 110 may be a stand-alonedevice and placed within the fuel tank 130 when needed. The stand-alonesensor module 110 may be placed in the tank to determine the viscosityand the temperature, and may be removed after the determination. Forexample, the stand-alone sensor module 110 may be inserted within thefuel tank 130 through a fuel nozzle, the stand-alone sensor module maydetermine the fuel:oil ratio of the fuel and oil mixture, and may beremoved after the determination. The sensor module may also include adisplay 120 where a user may input the fuel:oil ratio of the engine, thetype of fuel, and the type of oil. The display 120 may display theviscosity of the fuel:oil ratio.

FIG. 1B depicts an illustration of a fuel tank with a supplemental fuelreservoir and a supplemental oil reservoir, according to embodiments.Upon a determination using the sensor module 110 that viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range,fuel or oil may be added to the fuel and oil mixture within the fueltank 130. The fuel reservoir 142 may store a portion of unadulteratedfuel to be added to the fuel and oil mixture if the sensor module 110determines that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is tooviscous. If the fuel and oil mixture is too viscous, then additionalfuel may be added to the fuel and oil mixture through a fuel pump 136.For example, a calculated viscosity from the fuel and the oil at atemperature may be 0.78 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.05 cSt. Ifthe actual viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.90 cSt, then fuelmay be added to reduce the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. Theoil reservoir 144 may store a portion of unadulterated oil to be addedto the fuel and oil mixture if the sensor module 110 determines that theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is not viscous enough. If the fueland oil mixture is not viscous enough, then additional oil may be addedto the fuel and oil mixture through an oil pump 138. For example, acalculated viscosity from the fuel and the oil at a temperature may be0.78 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.05 cSt. If the actualviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.70 cSt, then oil may be addedto increase the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture.

The fuel reservoir 142 may store a portion of fuel that may be added tothe fuel and oil mixture. The fuel reservoir 142 may store the same orsimilar fuel as used when making the fuel oil mixture for the fuel tank130. The fuel may be an unadulterated fuel, which may include a fuelthat has not been premixed with an oil. For example, a user may createthe fuel and oil mixture from a first fuel and a first oil and fill thefuel reservoir 142 with the first fuel. The fuel and oil mixture may beput into the fuel tank 130. An additional portion of the unadulteratedfirst fuel (has not been mixed with the first oil) may be put into thefuel reservoir 142.

In various embodiments, the additional portion of the unadulterated fuelmay include a predetermined portion of fuel. The predetermined portionof fuel may include adding a measured amount of fuel to the fuel and oilmixture. If the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is does notcorrespond with the predetermined range, then one or more predeterminedportions of fuel may be added until the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture corresponds with the predetermined range. To cause the fuel andoil mixture to correspond with the predetermined range the one or morepredetermined portions may be added between measurements of theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. A corresponding viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture may include the measured viscosity of the fuel andoil mixture corresponds with the predetermined range of a combinedviscosity. For example, a predetermined portion of fuel may be 0.5 fl.oz. of fuel. If a combined viscosity is determined to be 0.95 cSt with apredetermined range of ±0.1 cSt and the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture is 1.12 cSt, then a predetermined portion of fuel may be added.The fuel pump 136 may add 0.5 fl. oz. of fuel to the fuel and oilmixture from the fuel reservoir 142. The 0.5 fl. oz. predeterminedportion of fuel may be added to the fuel and oil mixture and theviscosity may be remeasured by the sensor module 110. The sensor module110 may measure that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 1.08cSt, which is still does not correspond with the predetermined range.The fuel pump 136 may then add a second 0.5 fl. oz. of fuel to the fueland oil mixture from the fuel reservoir 142. The 0.5 fl. oz.predetermined portion may be added to the fuel and oil mixture and theviscosity may again be remeasured by the sensor module 110. The sensormodule 110 may measure that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture as1.03 cSt, which corresponds with the predetermined range, ceasingadditions of predetermined portions of fuel from being added to the fueland oil mixture.

The oil reservoir 144 may store a portion of oil that may be added tothe fuel and oil mixture. The oil reservoir 144 may store the same orsimilar oil as used when making the fuel oil mixture for the fuel tank130. The oil may be an unadulterated oil, which may include the oil thathas not been premixed with the fuel. For example, a user may create thefuel and oil mixture from a first fuel and a first oil and fill the oilreservoir 144 with the first fuel. The fuel and oil mixture may be putinto the fuel tank 130. An additional portion of the unadulterated firstoil (which has not been mixed with the first fuel) may be put into theoil reservoir 144.

In various embodiments, the additional portion of the unadulterated oilmay include a predetermined portion of oil. The predetermined portion ofoil may include adding a measured amount of oil to the fuel and oilmixture. If the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does notcorrespond with the predetermined range, then one or more predeterminedportions of oil may be added until the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture corresponds with the predetermined range. To cause the fuel andoil mixture to correspond with the predetermined range the one or morepredetermined portions may be added between measurements of theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. A corresponding viscosity of thefuel and oil mixture may include the measured viscosity of the fuel andoil mixture being within the predetermined range of a combinedviscosity. For example, a predetermined portion of oil may be 0.1 fl.oz. of oil. If a combined viscosity is determined to be 0.95 cSt with apredetermined range of ±0.1 cSt and the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture is 0.81 cSt, then a predetermined portion of oil may be added.The oil pump 138 may add 0.1 fl. oz. portion of oil to the fuel and oilmixture from the oil reservoir 144. The 0.1 fl. oz. predeterminedportion of oil may be added to the fuel and oil mixture and theviscosity may be remeasured by the sensor module 110. The sensor module110 may measure that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.83cSt, which still does not correspond with the predetermined range. Theoil pump 138 may then add a second 0.1 fl. oz. portion of oil to thefuel and oil mixture from the oil reservoir 144. The 0.1 fl. oz.predetermined portion may be added to the fuel and oil mixture and theviscosity may be again be remeasured by the sensor module 110. Thesensor module 110 may measure that the viscosity of the fuel and oilmixture is 0.86 cSt, which corresponds with the predetermined range,ceasing additions of predetermined portions of oil from being added tothe fuel and oil mixture.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of components of a sensor module,according to embodiments. The components of the sensor module 210 mayinclude an input/output 212, which may communicatively couple thedisplay 220 to the sensor module 210. The input/output 212 of the sensormodule may communicatively couple a measurement tool 240, a computingtool 250, and an alert tool 260. The measurement tool 240 may include aviscometer 242 and a temperature sensor 244. The computing tool 250 mayinclude a central processing unit (CPU) 252 and a memory 254. The alerttool 260 may include an alert sensor 262 and an alert system 264. Thesensor module 210 may be located within or placed within a fuel tank230. The fuel tank 230 may contain a fuel and oil mixture, and thesensor module may determine if the fuel and oil mixture corresponds withor does not correspond with a predetermined range (range, predeterminedrange).

The measurement tool 240, such as the viscometer 242 and the temperaturesensor 244, may measure the viscosity and the temperature of the fueland oil mixture within the fuel tank 230. The viscometer 242 maycontinuously measure the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture. Thetemperature sensor 244 may continuously measure the temperature of thefuel and oil mixture. For example, the fuel and oil mixture may berecorded by the viscometer 242 as having a viscosity of 1.02 cSt, andthe temperature sensor 244 may record a temperature of 40° C. Therecorded viscosity and temperature may be gathered by the input/output212, which may send the viscosity and the temperature to the computingtool 250, and the alert tool 260.

In various embodiments, the viscometer 242 of the measurement tool 240may measure the viscosity in 0.03 cSt increments. If the viscometer 242may measure a viscosity at 0.03 cSt increments, the fuel:oil ratio maybe calculated to the 3 parts out of 100 parts, or 0.03% of oil in thefuel and oil mixture. By precisely calculating the viscosity of the fueland oil mixture, the actual fuel:oil ratio or percentage of oil may bedisplayed to the user. The user may then change the fuel:oil ratio basedon the display. For example, the fuel:oil ratio of the engine mayrequire a 40:1 fuel:oil ratio; if a fuel and oil mixture is 38:1, theuser may add oil to the fuel tank to correct the fuel:oil ratio.

The computing tool 250 such as the CPU 252 and the memory 254 mayreceive the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture from themeasurement tool 240 and calculate the actual fuel:oil ratio of the fueland oil mixture. The CPU 252 may be used to perform the calculations ofthe computing tool 250. The memory 254 may store the calculations to becarried out by the CPU 252 of the computing tool 250. The computing tool250 may receive input from the display 220 regarding the fuel and oilmixture within the fuel tank 230. The input received on the display mayinclude the user inputting an oil viscosity of an oil, and a fuelviscosity of a fuel. The input/output 212 may receive from the display220 information that may contain the octane of the fuel, the type ofoil, and the fuel:oil ratio of the engine. The computing tool 250 mayuse the temperature from the temperature sensor 244 and the informationfrom the user to determine a calculated fuel:oil viscosity and apredetermined range of acceptable viscosities. For example, if the fuelhas a viscosity of 0.6 cSt, the viscosity of the oil is 71 cSt, thetemperature is 40° C., and the fuel:oil ratio for the engine is 20:1,then the calculated viscosity may be 1.025 cSt. The calculated viscositymay be sent to the alert tool 260 through the input/output 212.

The computing tool 250 may be in communication with or connected throughthe input/output 212 to peripherals 222 that the user may use tointeract with the display 220. The peripherals 222 may include computerkeyboards, computer mice, touch screens, a barcode scanner, imagescanners, and microphones. The peripherals 222 may be used to inputinformation to the computing tool 250 for determining the fuel:oilratio. For example, a user may use a keyboard to input the viscosity ofthe fuel, the viscosity of the oil, and the fuel:oil ratio of theengine. The peripherals 222 may be included within the display 220. Forexample, peripherals 222 being a touch screen may be within the display220. The touchscreen peripheral 220 may receive input from a user thatis communicated through the input/output 212 to the computing tool 250.

In various embodiments, the computing tool 250 may register andcalculate a predetermined range (i.e. a range of interest) that the fueland oil mixture may be within. If the fuel and oil mixture correspondswith the predetermined range, an alert may not be generated. Thepredetermined range may be used to determine if the fuel and oil mixtureis correct for the fuel:oil ratio of the engine. For example, if theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture at a temperature is 0.75 cSt, andthe calculated viscosity from the fuel and the oil at the temperature is0.78 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.05 cSt, then an alert may notbe generated.

In various embodiments, the computing tool 250 may calculate thefuel:oil ratio as a percentage of oil within the fuel of the fuel andoil mixture. For example, a 100:1 fuel:oil ratio is a 1% oil mixture.The calculated viscosity of a 100:1 fuel:oil ratio would be the same orsubstantially similar to a 1% oil mixture. The computing tool 250 mayuse the percentages to determine if the fuel and oil mixture correspondswith a predetermined range. For example, if the actual measured fuel andoil mixture is 1.85% oil, and the actual fuel:oil ratio is a 2% oilmixture with a ±0.2% predetermined range, then the alert tool 260 maynot generate an alert because the 1.85% oil mixture corresponds with thepredetermined range.

In various embodiments, the computing tool 250 may also determine asecond threshold where a near 0% oil mixture is present. If the fuel:oilratio is near 0% oil, a second threshold may be reached generating asecond alert from the alert tool 260. For example, the predeterminedrange of a fuel:oil ratio may be a 0% with a +0.2% range. If the fueland oil mixture contains a 0.1% oil mixture, then the second thresholdmay be reached, and the second alert may be generated.

The alert tool 260 which includes the alert sensor 262 and the alertsystem 264 may receive the actual fuel:oil ratio from the computing tool250 and generate an alert if the fuel:oil ratio does not correspond withthe calculated range. The alert generated from the alert system 264 maybe sent through the input/output 212 to the display 220. The display 220may display the actual fuel:oil ratio to the user and issue an alert ifthe fuel:oil ratio does not correspond with the calculated range. Forexample, the calculated fuel:oil ratio may be 1.025 cSt with apredetermined range of ±0.1 cSt. If the actual fuel:oil ratio is 1.02cSt an alert may not be generated because the actual fuel:oil ratiocorresponds with the predetermined range. In an additional example, thecalculated fuel:oil ratio may be 1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of±0.1 cSt. If the actual fuel:oil ratio is 1.15 cSt, an alert may begenerated because the ratio of the fuel and oil mixture does notcorrespond with the predetermined range.

In various embodiments, the alert tool 260 may generate a second alertif the alert sensor 262 determines that the actual fuel:oil ratio doesnot correspond with a second predetermined range. The determination ofthe second predetermined range may include that oil may have not beenadded to the fuel and oil mixture. For example, if the viscosity of thefuel is 0.6 cSt, and the actual fuel and oil mixture has a viscosity of0.6 cSt, then oil may have not been added to the mixture.

In various embodiments, the display 220 may be a GUI. The GUI maydisplay the fuel:oil ratio of the fuel and oil mixture. The GUI mayinclude peripherals 222 that the user may interact with to provideinformation to the computing tool 250. The information may include thetype of the fuel, the type of the oil, and the fuel:oil ratio of theengine. The GUI may receive an alert through the input/output 212 fromthe alert tool 260.

In various embodiments, the alert system 264 may shut off the engine ifthe fuel:oil ratio within the fuel tank 230 does not correspond with thecalculated range. If the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixturedoes not correspond with the predetermined range, then the engine may beshut off to prevent the engine from being damaged. The measuredviscosity may be the viscosity measured by the viscometer. For example,where the calculated fuel:oil ratio is 1.0 cSt with a predeterminedrange of ±0.1 cSt, if the measured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixtureis 1.15 cSt, then the engine may be shut off to prevent damage to theengine.

FIG. 3 depicts tables of the combined viscosity of a fuel:oil ratio withrespect to temperature, according to embodiments. The fuel:oil ratio maybe calculated and stored as a table. The table may be a lookup tablethat a computer may store and access to determine if the fuel and oilmixture does not correspond with a predetermined range of a measuredfuel:oil ratio. The predetermined range of the fuel:oil ratio may becalculated and stored on the lookup table. The calculated fuel:oil ratiomay be calculated as a combined viscosity. To determine if the fuel andoil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range, a combinedviscosity may be calculated for the fuel and the oil based on a fuel:oilratio. To calculate the viscosity of the fuel:oil ratio, a viscosity ofthe oil at two different temperatures may be known.

Two known oils with a fuel are used in determining the fuel:oil ratio: afirst oil, Sinclair Artic Fire®, and a second oil, AMSOIL SABER®. Twomeasured viscosities of the oil are given on a material data safetysheet (MSDS) of the oils; Artic Fire® has a viscosity of 30.5 cSt at 40°C. and 6.17 cSt at 100° C., and AMSOIL SABER® has a viscosity of 71 cStat 40° C. and 11.1 cSt at 100° C. The viscosity of gasoline or petrolfuels may range from 0.5-0.8 cSt at 40° C. and 100° C. depending on themanufacturer or refiner of the fuel. A viscosity of 0.6 cSt may be usedat both 40° C. and 100° C. for calculating the combined viscosity. Fivefuel:oil ratios of the table may be used to calculate the combinedviscosity. The fuel ratios may include a 20:1, a 40:1, a 50:1, an 80:1,and a 100:1 fuel:oil ratio. The combined viscosities of the fuel andboth of the oils were calculated at each of the temperatures and thefuel:oil ratios. For example, the combined viscosity of a 20:1 fuel:oilratio of ARTIC FIRE® at 40° C. is 0.878 cSt. In an additional example,the combined viscosity of a 20:1 fuel:oil ratio of SABER® at 40° C. is1.025 cSt.

In various embodiments, the predetermined range may be calculateddynamically from the combined viscosity. The dynamic fuel:oil ratiorange of the viscosity may be a percentage difference from the combinedviscosity. The dynamic fuel:oil ratio range may be adjusted based on theneeds of the user. The percentage difference of the dynamic fuel:oilratio range can be calculated from a percentage deviation or dynamicrange of the combined viscosity. For example, if the combined viscosityof a 20:1 fuel:oil ratio of Sinclair ARTIC FIRE® at 40° C. is 0.878 cSt,then a 10% dynamic range may be ±0.087 cSt. If the actual fuel and oilmixture viscosity is between 0.965 cSt and 0.792 cSt, the measuredviscosity may not cause an alert system to generate an alert. In anadditional example, if the combined viscosity of a 20:1 fuel:oil ratioof SABER® at 40° C. is 1.025 cSt, then a 10% dynamic range may be ±0.1cSt. If the actual fuel and oil mixture viscosity is between 1.125 cStand 0.903 cSt, the measured viscosity may not cause an alert system togenerate an alert.

In various embodiments, additional two-stroke oils may be updated intothe lookup table. The lookup table may be updated by the user if an oilis not currently stored on the table. The lookup table may be storedwithin the memory of the computing tool. The lookup table may beaccessed through the internet if the sensor module is wirelesslyenabled. The user may input a first viscosity of the oil at a firsttemperature and a second viscosity of the oil at a second temperature.By inputting the two viscosities at two temperatures, the viscosity ofthe oil at various temperatures may be calculated. The viscosities atvarious temperatures can be used to determine if the fuel and oilmixture corresponds with the predetermined range. For example, an oilwith a viscosity of 65 cSt at 40° C. and 9 cSt at 100° C. would have aviscosity of approximately 28.47 cSt at 60° C.

In various embodiments, the lookup table may be updated through theinternet. The lookup table stored within the memory of the computingdevice may be updated. Updating the lookup table may include adding oilsto the lookup table. For example, the lookup table may connect to theinternet wirelessly and if a new oil can be added to the lookup table,the computing tool may download and add the new oil to the lookup table.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method that monitors a fuel to oil ratiowithin a fuel tank, according to embodiments. A sensor module may beequipped with a viscometer and a temperature sensor to determine thefuel:oil ratio of a fuel and oil mixture. The sensor module may measurethe viscosity and the temperature of the fuel and oil mixture. Themeasured fuel and oil mixture may be compared to a lookup table whichstores a calculated combined viscosity of a fuel:oil ratio. Thecalculated combined viscosity includes a fuel, an oil, a temperature,and a fuel:oil ratio. Each fuel, oil, temperature, and fuel:oil ratiomay be stored on the lookup table to be able to compare the viscosity ofthe fuel and oil mixture with the calculated combined viscosity. If theviscosity of the measured fuel:oil ratio does not correspond with apredetermined (acceptable) range of the calculated combined viscosity,then an alert may be generated to a user. The alert may includeinforming the user that the fuel and oil mixture does not correspondwith the predetermined range of the calculated combined viscosity, andmay include informing the user to add more fuel or more oil. The method400 may be repeated to ensure that the fuel:oil ratio remainscorresponding with the predetermined range. The predetermined range mayinclude an upper limit and a lower limit of the measured viscosity.

In operation 402, an engine is started. The engine may be a two-strokeengine that includes a fuel tank. The fuel tank may include a sensormodule that monitors the fuel and oil mixture within the fuel tank. Theengine may power the machine the engine is connected to and the sensormodule. The sensor module may also be powered externally. In startingthe engine, the sensor module may require the user to select or input afuel:oil ratio based on the two-stroke engine. Some two-stroke enginesrequire a 20:1 fuel:oil ratio, while others require an 80:1 fuel oilratio. The user may need to select the fuel:oil ratio before the sensormodule may alert the user of the fuel and oil mixture not correspondingwith a predetermined range.

In operation 404, the fuel:oil ratio of the fuel and oil mixture withinthe fuel tank is measured. The fuel and oil mixture is measured by thesensor module. The sensor module may measure the viscosity and thetemperature of the fuel and oil mixture. For example, the sensor modulemay detect that the fuel and oil mixture, where the oil is AMSOILSABER®, has a viscosity of 0.82 cSt at a temperature of 40° C. In anadditional example, the sensor module may detect that the fuel and oilmixture, where the oil is Sinclair Artic Fire®, has a viscosity of 0.65cSt at 100° C.

In operation 406, a lookup table is accessed. The lookup table mayinclude the combined viscosity of the fuel:oil ratios of varioustwo-stroke engine oils and fuels. The lookup table may be accessed bythe sensor module or stored within the sensor module to determine if theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with apredetermined range of the calculated combined viscosity. For example,the calculated combined viscosities of AMSOIL SABER® may be accessed at40° C. for all of the fuel:oil ratios. At a 40:1 ratio the combinedviscosity of AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. may be approximately 0.794 cSt. Inan additional example, the calculated combined viscosities of SinclairArtic Fire® may be accessed at 100° C. for all of the fuel:oil ratios.At a 50:1 ratio the combined viscosity of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 100°C. may be approximately 0.643 cSt.

In operation 408, the fuel and oil mixture is determined to correspondwith the predetermined rang or not correspond with the predeterminedrange of the calculated combined viscosity. The predetermined range ofthe calculated combined viscosity may be determined. If the fuel:oilratio does not correspond with the predetermined range, then the method400 may progress to operation 410. For example, the measured fuel andoil mixture may include an oil of AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. with aviscosity of 0.82 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engine isa 20:1, the combined viscosity may be 1.025 and the predetermined rangemay be ±0.1 cSt. Since the viscosity of the measured fuel and oilmixture is 0.82 cSt, the fuel:oil ratio does not correspond with thepredetermined range of the combined viscosity. In an additional example,the measured fuel and oil mixture may include an oil of Sinclair ArticFire® at 100° C. with a viscosity of 0.65 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio ofthe two-stroke engine is a 20:1, the combined viscosity may be 0.712 cStand the predetermined range may be ±0.02 cSt. Since the viscosity of themeasured fuel and oil mixture is 0.65 cSt, the fuel:oil ratio does notcorrespond with the predetermined range of the combined viscosity.

If the fuel:oil ratio corresponds with the predetermined range, then themethod 400 may return to operation 404 where the fuel:oil ratio ismeasured. For example, the measured fuel and oil mixture may include anoil of AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. with a viscosity of 0.82 cSt. If thefuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engine is a 40:1, then the combinedviscosity calculated of the fuel:oil ratio may be 0.794 and thepredetermined range may be ±0.05 cSt. Since the viscosity of themeasured fuel and oil mixture is 0.82 cSt, the fuel:oil ratiocorresponds with the predetermined range of the combined viscosity. Inan additional example, the measured fuel and oil mixture may include anoil of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 100° C. with a viscosity of 0.65 cSt. Ifthe fuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engine is a 50:1, the combinedviscosity may be 0.643 cSt and the predetermined range may be ±0.01 cSt.Since the viscosity of the measured fuel and oil mixture is 0.65 cSt,the fuel:oil ratio corresponds with the predetermined range of thecombined viscosity.

In operation 410, an alert may be generated by an alert tool if the fueland oil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range. Thealert may include informing the user that the fuel and oil mixture doesnot correspond with the predetermined range. For example, the measuredfuel and oil mixture may include an oil of AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. witha viscosity of 0.82 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engineis a 20:1, then the combined viscosity may be 1.025 and thepredetermined range may be ±0.1 cSt. Since the viscosity of the measuredfuel and oil mixture is 0.82 cSt, then an alert may be generated.

In various embodiments, the alert may include an audible alarm. If thealert is generated, then the audible alarm may generate a noise to theuser that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture does not correspondwith the predetermined range. For example, if the calculated viscosityis 1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.1 cSt and the measuredviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.89 cSt, then the audiblealarm may generate and output a noise to the user.

In various embodiments, the alert may include a visual alarm. If thealert is generated, then the visual alarm may generate a visualindicator to the user that the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixturedoes not correspond with the predetermined range. Examples of visualindicators may include a light that is illuminated, or a warning messagedisplayed to the user on a display. For example, if the calculatedviscosity is 1.0 cSt with a predetermined range of ±0.1 cSt and themeasured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is 0.89 cSt, then thevisual alarm may generate and output a visual indicator to the user.

In operation 412, the fuel and oil mixture is determined if fuel oilmixture is below the predetermined range. The viscosity may bedetermined based on the viscosity of the fuel, the oil, a calculatedviscosity of the fuel:oil ratio, and the temperature. If the fuel andoil mixture does not correspond with the predetermined range and notviscous enough, the oil of the fuel and oil mixture may be too lowmeaning the engine may not be properly lubricated. If the mixture doesnot correspond with the predetermined range and too viscous, then theoil in the fuel and oil mixture may be too high causing burn rateproblems and exhaust fumes. The determination may be used to determineif the fuel:oil ratio of the fuel and oil mixture is above or below thepredetermined range. If the fuel and oil mixture is below thepredetermined range (i.e. not enough oil), the method may progress tooperation 414 where an alert informs the user to add more oil to thetank. For example, the measured fuel and oil mixture may include an oilof AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. with a viscosity of 0.82 cSt. If the fuel:oilratio of the two-stroke engine is a 20:1, the combined viscosity may be1.025 and the predetermined range may be ±0.1 cSt. Since the viscosityof the measured fuel and oil mixture is 0.82 cSt, the fuel:oil ratiodoes not correspond with the predetermined range of the combinedviscosity and below the predetermined range. In an additional example,the measured fuel and oil mixture may include an oil of Sinclair ArticFire® at 100° C. with a viscosity of 0.65 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio ofthe two-stroke engine is a 20:1, the combined viscosity may be 0.712 cStand the predetermined range may be ±0.02 cSt. Since the viscosity of themeasured fuel and oil mixture is 0.65 cSt, the fuel:oil ratio does notcorrespond with the predetermined range of the combined viscosity andbelow the predetermined range.

If the fuel and oil mixture is above the predetermined range (i.e. toomuch oil) the method may progress to operation 416 where an alertinforms the user to add more fuel to the tank. For example, the measuredfuel and oil mixture may include an oil of AMSOIL SABER® at 40° C. witha viscosity of 1.13 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engineis a 20:1, the combined viscosity may be 1.025 and the predeterminedrange may be ±0.1 cSt. Since the viscosity of the measured fuel and oilmixture is 1.13 cSt, the fuel:oil ratio does not correspond with thepredetermined range of the combined viscosity and above thepredetermined range. In an additional example, the measured fuel and oilmixture may include an oil of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 100° C. with aviscosity of 0.65 cSt. If the fuel:oil ratio of the two-stroke engine isan 80:1, the combined viscosity may be 0.627 cSt and the predeterminedrange may be ±0.02 cSt. Since the viscosity of the measured fuel and oilmixture is 0.65 cSt, the fuel:oil ratio does not correspond with thepredetermined range of the combined viscosity and above thepredetermined range.

In operation 414, an alert is generated, in response to the fuel oilratio being below the predetermined range, and sent to the user to addmore oil to the tank. If the fuel:oil ratio is below the predeterminedrange, then an alert may be sent to the user informing the user to addmore oil to the tank. For example, the viscosity of a fuel and oilmixture of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 40° C. with a fuel:oil ratio of 50:1may include a combined viscosity of 0.703 cSt with an predeterminedrange of ±0.02 cSt. If the fuel and oil mixture has a viscosity of 0.68cSt, then the fuel and oil mixture does not correspond with and belowthe predetermined range. The alert may be generated and sent to the userto inform the user to add more oil.

In various embodiments, a second alert may be generated if the fuel andoil mixture has a viscosity low enough that the user may have not addedoil. A threshold may be added to the combined viscosity. If theviscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is below the threshold a secondalert may be generated and sent to the user to inform the user that oilmay have not been added to the mixture. For example, the viscosity of afuel may be 0.6 cSt, which may set a second threshold at 0.62 cSt for afuel and oil mixture of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 40° C., and a fuel:oilratio of 50:1. If the viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture is below0.62 cSt, then the second alert may be sent to the user.

In operation 416, an alert is generated, in response to the fuel oilratio being above the predetermined range, and sent to the user to addmore fuel to the tank. If the fuel:oil ratio is above the predeterminedrange, then an alert may be sent to the user informing the user to addmore fuel to the tank. For example, the viscosity of a fuel and oilmixture of Sinclair Artic Fire® at 40° C. with a fuel:oil ratio of 50:1may include a combined viscosity of 0.703 cSt with an predeterminedrange of ±0.02 cSt. If the fuel and oil mixture has a viscosity of 0.73cSt, then the fuel and oil mixture is above and does not correspond withthe predetermined range. The alert may be generated and sent to the userto inform the user to add more fuel.

In various embodiments, the alert to add more oil or fuel to the tankmay include shutting off the engine. If the viscosity of the fuel andoil mixture does not correspond with the accepted range, then the enginemay be shut off to prevent damage to the engine. For example, thecalculated combined viscosity of the viscosity of a fuel and oil mixtureof Sinclair Artic Fire® at 40° C. and a fuel:oil ratio of 50:1 mayinclude a combined viscosity of 0.703 cSt. The combined viscosity mayinclude a predetermined range of ±0.02 cSt. If the fuel and oil mixturehas a viscosity of 0.66 cSt, then the fuel and oil mixture is below thepredetermined range. The alert may be generated and sent to the user toinform the user to add more oil and the engine may be shut off toprevent damage to the engine.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium may be a tangible device that mayretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein may bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that may directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, may be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosurehave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer program product for determining a fuelto oil mixture ratio comprising a computer readable storage mediumhaving a computer readable application stored therein, wherein thecomputer readable application, when executed on a computing device,causes the computing device to perform the steps of: selecting a fuel tooil ratio of a first motor for a fuel and oil mixture within a fueltank, wherein the first motor is a spark ignited motor; calculating acombined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture for a lookup tablewherein calculating the combined viscosity comprises: inputting a firstfuel viscosity of the fuel, inputting a first oil viscosity of the oil,measuring the first temperature of the fuel and oil mixture, anddetermining the combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture;determining, in response to calculating, a predetermined range of thecombined viscosity, wherein the predetermined range includes: an upperlimit of the combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture, and a lowerlimit of the combined viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture; measuring ameasured viscosity of the fuel and oil mixture within the fuel tank;alerting a user that the measured viscosity of the fuel to oil mixturedoes not correspond with the predetermined range of the combinedviscosity; determining an additional portion of oil to be added to thefuel and oil mixture; and adding the additional portion of oil to thefuel and oil mixture.